Fire hydrant



Sep 2 1963 F. H. MUELLER ETAL FIRE HYDRANT Filed Dec. 5, 1959 SSheets-Sheet 1 2 m 0 4 m w /m w 6 68 0 6 a v m m 41;" 8 w M 6 2 l l P1963 F. H. MUELLER ETAI. 3,104,554

FIRE HYDRANT Filed Dec. 3, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

INVENTOR. A/K rvf MU4LE BY JE/M/ JSwgirb XWJZ MW A ORA/5K5 P 24, 1963 F.H. MUELLER ET AL 3,104,554

FIRE HYDRANT Filed Dec. 3, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR FRANKH.MUELLER JOHN J. SMITH ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,104,554 FIREHYDRANT Frank H. Mueller and John J. Smith, Decatur, Ill, assignors toMueller Co., Decatur, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 3,1959, Ser. No. 856,981 Claims. (c1. 74-182) This invention relates toimprovements in fire hydrants. More particularly, this invention relatesto improvements in fire hydrants which will render the same not onlycheaper to manufacture, but also easier to maintain and repair.Moreover, the improvements reduce the maintenance requirements for ahydrant and enable the same to be operated or put in service forextended periods of time without any attention.

Fire hydrants conventionally have a valve seat ring threaded into themouth of the hydrant shoe to provide a downwardly facing valve seat. Thethreaded engagernent makes it possible to remove the seat ring, forrepair or replacement, without digging up the hydrant. The formation ofthreads within the mouth of a hydrant shoe is a relatively costlymachining operation, however, because the shoe is a large, heavy andcumbersome structure.

Consequently, it is an object of this invention to provide a valve seatring removably engaged within the mouth of the hydrant shoe, but whereinthe shoe is not provided with interior threads.

Fire hydrants of the type with which this invention is concerned alsonormally are provided with drain valve ports which extend through thewall of the seat ring into communication with drain tubes or ports inthe side wall of the shoe. Slide valve elements on the hydrant valvestem cooperate with the inner ends of the drain valve ports to open suchports when the main hydrant valve is closed in order to drain thebarrel, and to close such ports when the main hydrant valve is open.There is a problem, however, in providing an effective satisfactory sealbetween the inner ends of the drain valve ports and the slide valveelements.

Accordingly, it is another object of this invention to provide animproved seal between the seat ring drain valve ports and the slidevalve elements carried by the stem of a fire hydrant.

Fire hydrants of the type with which this invention is concerned areprovided with upper and lower barrel sections having a replaceablefrangible connection therehetween to enable the upper section to beknocked over without damage to either section. Similarly, the valve stemmust be provided with upper and lower parts coupled together in such amanner that the connection therebetween will readily separate when thehydrant barrel sections are separated by fracture of the frangibleconnection therebetween. In the past, however, the readily detachablecoupling for the valve stem parts has been of such a nature that, ondisengagement, the coupling has been difficult to remove from the upperend of the lower part of the valve stem.

Hence, it is a further object of this invention to provide a readilydisengageable coupling for upper and lower valve stem parts which willfacilitate the removal of the coupling, on disengagement thereof, fromthe upper end of the lower valve stem part.

Fire hydrants of the type with which this invention is concerned usuallyhave a reciprocating valve stem operated by a stub shaft or screw thatis swivelly connected to the hydrant top plate and threadedly connectedwith the upper end of the valve stem. Such a construction naturallyinvolves the problem of providing a seal to prevent the escape of waterthrough the top plate, about the operating screw or shaft, when the mainhydrant 3,104,554 Patented Sept. 24, 1963 valve is open. Additionally,it is desirable to seal off the operating shaft or screw, and thethreaded engagement thereof with the valve stem, from the interior ofthe barrel in order to avoid corrosion problems. In all suchconstructions, a problem arises in providing a seal that will notdeteriorate over extended periods of time and also a seal that isrelatively inexpensive while at the same time extremely effective forits intended purpose.

Accordingly, it is still another object of this invention to provide animproved seal for isolating the operating mechanism of a hydrantreciprocating valve stem from the interior of the hydrant barrel. It isa further object of this invention to provide an improved operatingmechanism for a hydrant reciprocating valve stem.

In fire hydrant-s of the type with which this invention is concerned,the top plate usually is secured to the barrel by screws that arethreaded into tapped apertures or sockets in the upper end of thebarrel. Such construction, while effective, results in difiiculties whenone of such screws becomes so frozen in place that it is twisted oil.when trying to unscrew the same for removing the top plate from thehydrant barrel. In such an event, the hroken-otf portion of the screwmust either he drilled out successfully, or the tapped aperture reboredand retapped to a larger diameter. Failing that mode of repair, theentire hydrant barrel, orthe upper section of a two-part barrel, must bereplaced, obviously, a very costly procedure. In any event, it will beseen that the twist ing off of a plate-retaining screw will remove thehydrant from service for a considerable period of time, 13. hazardousoccurrence.

Consequently, it is a further object of this invention to provide animproved securement for the top plate of a hydrant which will eliminatethe aforedescrioed problems attendant the twisting oil? of a retainingscrew or holt.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view of a fire hydrant embodying thisinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the hydrant shownin FIGURE 1, and taken from the upper right-hand side of such figure.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the upper portion of thehydrant shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a lower portion of thehydrant shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 55 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 3 but illustrating a furthermodification of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown in FIG- URE 1, a hydrantshoe 10 adapted to be connected to a water main (not shown) and havingan upwardly opening mouth surrounded by a peripheral flange 12 to whichis bolted the lower end of a lower section 14 of a twopart barrel 16.The shoe 10 normally is formed of cast iron and within its mouth is anupwardly facing shoulder 18 against which is seated a brass bushing 20.The bushing 20 is retained in place by four uniformly circumferentiallyspaced stainless steel drain tubes 22 force-fitted through radiallyaligned apertures in the bushing and in the shoe 10. The outer surfaceof the bushing 20 is provided with a pair of spaced circumferentialgrooves, one above and one below the drain tubes 22, having O-rings 24disposedtherein and engaged with an opposed smooth surface in the mouthof the shoe 10. 1

Interior threads 26 in the upper end of the bushing 20 are engaged bycomplementary exterior threads 28 on the upper end of a valve seat ring30 which has an exterior circumferential drain'groove 3'2 registeringwith theinner ends of the drain tubes 22. The seat ring 30 is providedwith a pair of spaced exterior circumferential grooves, one above andone below the drain groove 32, having O-rings 34 therein in sealingengagement with the smooth inner surface of the bushing 20 below itsthreads 26. Preferably, the upper end of the seat ring 30 has aplurality of circumferentially spaced wrench-engageable lugs 36 forfacilitating the screwing of the ring into and out of the bushing 20,while the lower end of the seat ring is provided with a downwardlyflaring frusto-conical hydrant main valve seat 38. A pair ofdiametrically disposed drain valve ports 40 in the ring 30 communicate,at their outer ends, with the drain groove 32. At its inner end, eachdrain port 44} opens into the flat bottom of a longitudinal interiorgroove 42 in the ring 39, such groove being substantially rectangular incross-section, .as shown best in FIGURE A reciprocating valve stem 44extends within the barrel 16 and secured on the lower end of such stem,as by a transverse pin 46, is a hub portion 48 of an upper valve plate50. At the periphery'of the plate 50 is a pair of diametricallydisposed, upstanding, rib-like drain valve elements 52. The elements 52constitute slide valves that are fitted in and complementary [to thelongitudinal seat ring grooves 42. These elements 52, in the openposition of the hydrant main valve, as later explained, are adapted toclose the inner ends of the drain valve ports 46. In the flat bottom ofeach longitudinal groove 42 in the seat ring is an annular or circulargroove surrounding the inner end of each drain valve port 40 and havingan O-ring 54 therein sealing engaged with the opposed face of thecorresponding drain valve element 52. Each element 52 is provided, atits lower end, but above the plate 50, with a drain valve port 56 whichregisters with the corresponding drain valve port 40 in the seat ring 30in the closed position of the hydrant main valve. Preferably, the valvestem 44 is provided below the pin 46 with a circumferential groovewithin which is disposed an O-ring 58 in sealing engagement with the hubportion 48 of the upper valve plate 50. Preferably, the elements 52 arereenforced by inner longitudinal stiflening ribs 60 having sidere-enforcing flanges 62.

Clamps-d between the upper valve plate 50 and a lower valve plate 64 isa one-piece annular rubber-like valve washer 66 which has an inclinededge adapted to seat against the valve seat 38 at the lower end of theseat ring 30. The lower valve plate 64 is retained on the valve stem 44by a cap nut 68 threaded onto the lower end of the stem. Preferably, alock Washer 70 having bendable outer flanges is interposed between thenut 68 and the lower valve plate 64.

The hydrant barrel 16 also has an upper section 72 that is secured tothe lower section 14 by a frangible connection 74 described more indetail in the copending application of Mueller et al., Serial No.848,319. In this connection, it is sufiicient for the purposes here topoint out that the barrel sections 14 and 72 are secured together by aclamp ring 76 bolted to a flange 78 on the lower end of the upper barrelsection 72 and having an'inner frangible portion which underlies acircumferential flange '80 on the upper end of the lower barrel section14. The hydrant normally is buried up to a ground line mark 82(FIGURE 1) on the lower barrel section 14. From this construction itwill be seen that when the upper barrel section 72 is subjected to asevere blow, as by being hit by a motor vehicle, the inner portion ofthe ring 76 fractures ofi and permits the upper barrel section to beknocked over without damage to either section.

The valve stem 44 likewise must be provided with upper and lower parts84 and 86, respectively, coupled together by a frangible or otherwisereadily disengageable connection to permit ready separation of such stemparts without damage to the valve or operating parts engaged by thelower and upper ends of the stem 16. For this purpose the upper andlower stem parts 84 and 86 have 4 their plane of separation disposedabove the upper edge of the lower barrel section 14 and are securedtogether by a coupling sleeve 88 provided intermediate its ends with acircumferential weakening groove 90. This groove 90 is disposed at theplane of separation between the opposed ends of the upper and lower stemparts 84 and 86. The sleeve 83 is secured to the stem parts 84 and 86 byforce-fitted pins 92 and 94, respectively, which extend diametricallythrough the sleeve and through transverse b-ores in the stem parts.

From the foregoing construction, it will be seen that when the upperbarrel section 72 is impacted sufiiciently to break its frangibleconnection 74 with the lower barrel section 14, the upper stem part 84will be subjected to a bending moment, relative to the lower stem part86, sufficient to fracture the stem coupling sleeve 88 about itsweakening circumferential groove 90 to thereby permit uncoupling orseparation of the stem parts. .Because the lower sleeve-retaining pin 94is disposed above the upper end of the lower barrel section 14, such pinis readily accessible for being knocked out by an appropriate tool (notshown) so that the two stem parts 84 and 86 can be recoupled, by a newcoupling sleeve and a pair of new pins, before the barrel sections 14and 72 are resecured together by a new clamp ring. It will be seen thatif the opposed or adjacent ends of the two stem' parts 84 and 86, andthe coupling sleeve 88, were so positioned that the pin 94 connectingthe sleeve to the lower stem part was within the upper portion of thelower barrel section 14, i.e., below its upper end, the operation ofknocking out the pin 94 to remove the lower half of a fractured sleeve,would be extremely difiicult, because of I the tight quarters withinwhich a knockout tool could be manipulated.

The upper portion of the hydrant barrel 16 preferably is interiorly andexteriorly enlarged throughout a longitudinal zone or section 97(FIGURE 1) wherein the.

usual hydrant nozzles 96 are located, for reasons described in greaterdetail in the copending application of James H. Skomp, Serial No.854,416, filed November 20, 1959, now Patent No. 3,076,474. For purposeshere, it is sufficient to point out that such enlargement facilitatesvariations in the number, spacing, and location of the nozzles 96 duringthe manufacture of the upper barrel section 72.

Adjacent its upper end, the upper barrel section 72 is. interiorly andexteriorly reduced to define an exterior circumferential groove orrecess 98 having a downwardly and outwardly inclined lower wall 100 andan upper wall I that is defined by a circumferential flange 102, theouter periphery of which lies in a cylinder constituting an extension ofthe outer surface of the enlarged portion 97 ii of the upper barrelsection. A top plate 104 preferably of iron, closes the upper end of thebarrel 16 and is secured thereto by a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced bolts 1% extending downwardly through registering bolt holes inthe top plate and in the barrel flange 102. The

bolts 106 are engaged within threaded apertures in in-- wardly extendinglugs 108 on a band-like segmental ring 110 that smoothly covers thecircumferential groove 98 in the upper barrel section 72. The ring 110,which is generally rectangular in radial section and of greater heightthan width, preferably constitutes a smooth ex:

tension of the outer surface of the enlarged portion 97' of the upperbarrel section 72. The ring also is formed in two or more segments toenable attachment and detachment from the bolts 106. Preferably, thering 110 has an inwardly extending circumferential stiffening rib.

Hydrant top plates frequently are secured to a hydrant barrel by capscrews engaged within tapped recesses or sockets in the upper end of thebarrel. Occasionally such screws become so frozen in their engagementwith the barrel that a screw is twisted in two by attempts to remove orunscrew the same. In such an event, the broken-off portion of the screwmust be drilled out from its tapped socket in the barrel, sometimesnecessitating retapping such socket to a larger diameter, or the entirebarrel must be replaced. All of the foregoing operations necessarily aretime-consuming and expensive and usually take a hydrant out of servicefor an extended period of time, obviously a most undesirable result. Bymeans of this invention, however, if one of the 'bolts 106 should bebroken 011, removal of the corresponding segment of the ring 110 becomesa very simple matter. The broken-off part of the bolt can then be eitherdrilled out of the ring segment, or the latter replaced at relativelysmall expense. It also will be seen that because the ring 110 covers thegroove 98 not only is the latter kept free of dirt and debris, but alsothe appearance of the hydrant is improved.

As best shown in FIGURES 1 and 3 of the drawings, there is shown a formof the invention wherein the upper end of a valve stem 164 is exteriorlythreaded and engaged within a threaded socket 166 in an operating nut168. The nut 168 is rotatably received in a bearing aperture 170 in ahydrant top plate 172 and has a weather cap 174 secured to the outer endthereof by a pin 176. The weather cap 174 carries an upstanding centralnoncircular wrench-engageable projection 150 to rotate the valve stem,as will become evident. Preferably, a suitable dirt seal 178 is disposedin a circumferential recess or groove in the bearing aperture 170adjacent the outer end thereof. Outward movement of the nut 168 isprevented by engagement of an integral flange 180 thereon with thebottom 182 of a counterbore in the inner end of a sleeve portion 184depending from the plate 172, while inward movement of the nut isprevented by a gland nut 186 threaded into such counterbore into bearingengagement with the flange 180.

The nut 168, and the interengaged threads thereon and on the valve stem164 are sealed off from the interior of the barrel by a bellows 188having one end thereof clamped to the lower end of the sleeve portion184, and other end thereof clamped to the valve stem 164 below thethreads thereon. The vaive stem 164 is prevented from rotating by anappropriate arrangement adjacent its lower end, such as theinterfitting, arrangement between the slide valve elements 52 and theseat ring 30 shown in FIGURE 5.

Shown in FIGURE 6 is a still further modification oi the inventionsimilar to that shown in FIGURE 3, but wherein a hydrant top plate 190is not provided with a depending sleeve. In this m'odifiication, anintegral bearing flange 192 on an operating nut 194 is positionedadjacent the upper end of the latter and against the bottom 196 of acounterbore formed at the inner end of a bearing aperture 198 in theplate 190. The flange 192 is retained in position by a gland nut 200threaded into the outer end of such counterbore and locked in positionby a lock washer 202.

The nut 194, together with the interengaged threads between such nut andthe upper end of a valve stem 204, are sealed off from the interior ofthe barrel 210 'by a beliows 206 which has the lower end thereof clampedto the valve stem, below the threads thereon. I he upper end of thebellows 206 is extended radially outwardly and clamped between theengaged peripheral portions of the top plate 190 and a flange 208 on theupper end of the barrel 210. Preferably, a thin-walled sleeve 212 isaffixed to the gland nut 200 and depends about the lower portion of theoperating nut 194 encompassed within the bellows 206 in order to protectthe latter against damage by rotative engagement between the operatingnut and the bellows.

In this embodiment it will be seen that the top plate 190 is retained onthe barrel 210 by bolts 214 that extend freely through aligned boltholes in the plate and in the 6 flange 208 on the upper end of thebarrel 210, :and by nuts 216 threaded onto the bolts within acircumferential groove or recess 218 at the upper portion of the hydrantbarrel.

It thus will be seen that the objects of this invention have been fullyand effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that theforegoing specific embodiments have been shown and described only forthe purpose of illustrating the principles of this invention and issubject to extensive change without departure from such principles.Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed withinthe spirit and scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A fire hydrant comprising: a barrel; top closure means detachablysecured to said barrel; a reciprocating valve stem extending upwardlywithin said barrel; means engaged between said stem and barrel, adjacentthe lower ends thereof, for restraining said stem against rotation; anoperating nut threadably engaged with the upper end of said stem,rotatabiy mounted in an aperture in said closure means, and projectingabove the latter, said nut having an integral collar thereon bearingupwardly against a downwardly tacing shoulder in said aperture; a glandnut threadedly engaged within the lower end of said aperture and bearingagainst the underside of said collar; and flexible imperforate tubularsealing means having one end thereof sealed to said stem below itsthreaded connection with said operating nut and the other end thereofsealed to said closure means radially outwardly of said gland nut.

2. The structure defined ing means is a bellows.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the closure means has adepending tubular portion concentric with the aperture and the other endof the sealing means is clamped to said tubular portion.

4. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the other end of thesealing means is clamped between the closure means and the upper end ofthe \barrel.

5. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the operating nut has aportion depending below the closure means, and including rigid sleevemeans affixed to the gland nut and interposed between said depending nutportion and the sealing means.

in claim 1 in which the seal- References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 166,611 Hyde Aug. 10, 1875 535,910 KupferleMar. 19, 1895 979,941 Fuller Dec. 27, 1910 1,176,535 Fulton Mar. 21,1916 1,493,253 Eggleston May 6, 1924 1,731,130 Fulton Oct. 8, 19291,944,777 Banks Jan. 23, 1934 2,018,455 Lotton Oct. 22, 1935 2,088,426Lofton July 27, 1937 2,171,078 Cline Aug. 29, 1939 2,219,566 SauzeddeOct. 29, 1940 2,228,849 Sandos Jan. 14, 1941 2,249,848 OBrien July 22,1941 2,276,028 Dick Mar. 10, 1942 2,444,703 J ones July 6, 19482,492,030 Beekley Dec. 20, 1949 2,502,915 Atkins et a1. Apr. 4, 19502,665,105 Svabek Jan. 5, 1954 2,671,632 Palmer Mar. 9, 1954 2,746,486Gratzmuller May 22, 1956 2,840,113 Simpson June 24, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS778,725 France Jan. 2, 1935

1. A FIRE HYDRANT COMPRISING: A BARREL; TOP CLOSURE MEANS DETACHABLYSECURED TO SAID BARREL; A RECIPROCATING VALVE STEM EXTENDING UPWARDLYWITHIN SAID BARREL; MEANS ENGAGED BETWEEN SAID STEM AND BARREL, ADJACENTTHE LOWER ENDS THEREOF, FOR RESTRAINING SAID STEM AGAINST ROTATION; ANOPERATING NUT THREADABLY ENGAGED WITH THE UPPER END OF SAID STEM,ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN AN APERTURE IN SAID CLOSURE MEANS, AND PROJECTINGABOVE THE LATTER, SAID NUT HAVING AN INTEGRAL COLLAR THEREON BEARINGUPWARDLY AGAINST A DOWNWARDLY FACING SHOULDER IN SAID APERTURE; A GLANDNUT THREADEDLY ENGAGED WITHIN THE LOWER END OF SAID APERTURE AND BEARINGAGAINST THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID COLLAR; AND FLEXIBLE IMPERFORATE TUBULARSEALING MEANS HAVING ONE END THEREOF SEALED TO SAID STEM BELOW ITSTHREADED CONNECTION WITH SAID OPERATING NUT AND THE OTHER END THEREOFSEALED TO SAID CLOSURE MEANS RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OF SAID GLAND NUT.